Ezra 1

1 Years ago the LORD sent Jeremiah with a message about a promise for the
people of Israel. Then in the first year that Cyrus was king of Persia, the
LORD kept his promise by having Cyrus send this official message to all parts
of his kingdom:

2 I am King Cyrus of Persia. The LORD God of heaven, who is also the God
of Israel, has made me the ruler of all nations on earth. And he has chosen
me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. The LORD God will
watch over and encourage any of his people who want to go back to Jerusalem
and help build the temple.

3 (SEE 1:2)

4 Everyone else must provide what is needed. They must give money, supplies,
and animals, as well as gifts for rebuilding God's temple.

5 Many people felt that the LORD God wanted them to help rebuild his temple,
and they made plans to go to Jerusalem. Among them were priests, Levites, and
leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

6 The others helped by giving silver articles, gold, personal possessions,
cattle, and other valuable gifts, as well as offerings for the temple.

7 King Cyrus gave back the things that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the
LORD's temple in Jerusalem and had put in the temple of his own gods.

8 Cyrus placed Mithredath, his chief treasurer, in charge of these things.
Mithredath counted them and gave a list to Sheshbazzar, the governor of Judah.

9 Included among them were: 30 large gold dishes; 1,000 large silver dishes;
29 other dishes; 30 gold bowls; 410 silver bowls; and 1,000 other articles.

10 (SEE 1:9)

11 Altogether, there were 5,400 gold and silver dishes, bowls, and other
articles. Sheshbazzar took them with him when he and the others returned to
Jerusalem from Babylonia.

The Contemporary English Version, Copyright &COPY; 1995
by the American Bible Society.

Selected texts provided for use with the Amos: Hypertext Bible Commentary